A memorial of the Last Will and Testament of LEONARD SPENSLEY late of Hallgate in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth deceased bearing date 21 June 1841 whereby he gave and devised and appointed unto his nephew JOHN HOUSEMAN all that his freehold messuage farm and land situate at Bankhouse in the parish of Grinton ... to the use of JOHN HOUSEMAN and the first male heir of his body lawfully begotten... and I request that he may be called Leonard Spensley Houseman but in default of issue male and leaving a daughter or daughters .... then it is my will and desire and I do hereby give and devise the same unto the use of my nephew LEONARD SPENSLEY MASON and to the first male of his body lawfully begotten .. subject to the payment of £100 to each and every such daughter of my said nephew JOHN HOUSEMAN living at the time of his decease but in default of such I direct that the same shall go to my own right heirs and which said will is witnessed by William Foxton of Richmond in the County of York, clerk to George Alllison of Darlington in County Durham, attorney at law, and James Sherlock of Reeth in the County of York.

From the North Riding of Yorkshire Register of Deeds at Northallerton

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